Amnesty Alert - Northern Ireland (1)
01 January 1991
Amnesty Alert - Northern Ireland
artdoc December=1991
Amnesty International has for the first time issued an `urgent
action' notice in relation to Northern Ireland. Such a notice
means that AI members worldwide are asked to contact the relevant
authorities to appeal on behalf of the victim. In this case, the
victim is Damien Austin (17) who alleges that the RUC ill-treated
and threatened him in Castlereagh interrogation centre. Austin
claims he was verbally abused, punched, slapped, and spat upon.
His trousers and underpants were repeatedly pulled down, a
cigarette lighter held towards his pubic hair, and death threats
were made. He also claims to have been burned with a cigarette
on the face. During a second detention, Austin alleges that
detectives punched him in the stomach, on the arms and throat and
back of the head. He further says that detectives placed boots
between his legs and applied pressure to his testicles. He claims
that detectives tried to choke him as well. His right ear was
pulled and stitches from a previous injury burst.
In a High Court affidavit, Austin's doctor stated that he
`examined him in detail and found evidence of severe assaults to
his body. In addition to the physical injuries he appeared dazed
and apprehensive ... I can confirm that Damien Austin is being
subjected to severe ill-treatment and the police doctor agreed
with me on this'. Austin is one of more than twenty cases of
alleged ill-treatment currently being monitored by the Committee
on the Administration of Justice. His detention came during the
run-up to a local government bye-election in North Belfast in
which his father, Joe Austin, was standing as the Sinn Fein
candidate. Joe Austin was duly elected. In October Amnesty
International decided to refer this case and other similar ones
to the United Nations Committee on Torture.
Just News, Bulletin of CAJ, September 1991; Guardian, 29.10.91.